M.D. Mustafa Özbayrak

My 82-year-old father, Ahmet, was admitted to Acibadem Kartal with severe abdominal pain and confusion. Dr. Özbayrak was called in late at night for an emergency CT scan. What struck me wasn't just his technical skill—it was how he knelt by my father's gurney, speaking slowly and clearly to explain what he was doing, despite Papa's dementia. He found a rare mesenteric ischemia that three other radiologists had missed on previous scans at different hospitals. His detailed report to the surgical team included hand-drawn diagrams of the vascular compromise. The vascular surgeon later told us Dr. Özbayrak's precise localization of the ischemic segment saved precious bowel tissue. Two weeks later, Dr. Özbayrak personally reviewed the follow-up angiogram with us on his tablet, showing how blood flow had been restored. He treats patients, not just images.

Our 7-year-old daughter, Elif, needed an MRI for persistent headaches. She was terrified of enclosed spaces. Dr. Özbayrak didn't just order the scan—he met us in the pediatric wing first. He showed her the machine on his phone, let her hold the 'panic button,' and promised to talk to her through the whole process. During the scan, he narrated a story about a spaceship adventure, his voice calm over the intercom. When he found a small but concerning arachnoid cyst, he didn't just send a report. He sat with my husband and me with a 3D reconstruction of her brain, explaining exactly what it was, why it likely wasn't causing the headaches, and what monitoring would involve. He gave us his direct line for 'any silly questions.' His combination of pediatric sensitivity and neurosurgical-level neuroradiology expertise is extraordinary.

I'm a 45-year-old architect with no significant health history. My routine executive check-up at Acibadem Kartal included a low-dose CT scan for lung screening, recommended due to my former smoking. Dr. Özbayrak identified a 4mm ground-glass opacity. Instead of a standard 'follow-up in 12 months' note, he created a personalized risk analysis based on my age, pack-year history, and the lesion's specific morphology. He presented me with three clear options: active surveillance with precise intervals, a PET-CT for further characterization, or a non-surgical biopsy. He used architectural analogies I understood ('This isn't a load-bearing wall, but we should monitor the foundation'). I chose surveillance. His follow-up protocol isn't generic; he adjusts intervals based on minute changes. Two years later, the nodule remains stable. He turned a terrifying 'maybe' into a manageable plan I control.

Following a complex Whipple procedure for pancreatic cancer at another hospital, my mother's postoperative course was chaotic with suspected leaks. We sought a second opinion at Acibadem Kartal. Dr. Özbayrak reviewed the stack of previous CTs, but insisted on performing a contrast study himself with specific, timed phases he designed. He discovered not a simple leak, but a fistulous tract communicating with a disconnected remnant pancreatic duct—a nuance missed before. He didn't stop at the diagnosis. He coordinated a video conference with our surgeon, interventional radiologist, and gastroenterologist, using his dynamic scan images as a roadmap. He proposed a hybrid approach: IR drainage followed by endoscopic therapy. His role transcended diagnostics; he became the quarterback of her care plan. Six months later, she's back at her pottery wheel. Dr. Özbayrak doesn't just read scans; he solves clinical puzzles.